Go with the plane jane and modify it to your own liking. Original #'s matching cars are nice, but there are so few left out there, why not let someone who plans on collecting it and keeping it original so that years down the road we will still have some originals left. Sure, you could take out the drivetrain and store it, but once you've done that you'll start to think "well, I've already taken the drivetrain out, so I'll add a new front subframe from chassisworks on there and keep the old one." Then it will turn into "well, I'll minitub it and put some offset shackled springs on there to fit some monster 17x11" wheels with 315 tires on there. I can always keep the original springs, put them back on, and no one will ever know it's mini-tubbed if it's done well." And the list will go on and on, and before you know it, you'll be having too much fun with your hot rod to ever want to get rid of it.

 

Sell the numbers matching.... buy a half completed hot rod project.
You could probably pick up someone's half completed work of art for less that you sell the numbers matching for.

My ride is missing the cowl tag, aftermarket wheels, cut the dash for the new stereo, so I will never be a true 'classic restoration'

So I am gonna put in a new crate motor (Looking at a Ram Jet 350), new 700-4R transmission, putting in new real frame rails (Looking at extending them to bolt to the front subframe), tubular A-Frames. I also want to change the rims to 17" all round.

Other than that, I love the 'stock' look